Apple Pay finally launched in Japan on October 24, and ran into some serious problems. It was not able to connect with the mobile payment system that serves Tokyo’s train stations.

That was a real embarrassment in a country; where most people commute by train. Train-fare is one of the few items that Japanese are willing to buy with electronic payments. Many of them use contact less electronic payment cards to get on the train, but refuse to use credit cards at the store.